Collapsible last.



J. D. FADDEN.

GOLLAPSIBLE LAST.

APPLICATION 11.31) DBO. 7, 1011.

1,071,901 Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

; WT/VES'S'ES m/VE/V 7'08 fiaw' m I Cir UNTTED PATENT @FFIQE.

JAMES D. FADDEN,

0F AUBURN, MAINE, ASSIGNOR T0 HIMSELF, AND WILLIAM J.

MAH'ANEY, OF LITWISTO'N, MAINE.

COLLAPSIBV-LE LAST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

IatentedSept. 2, 191 3.

I '0 all whom if may concern lie it known that 1, James 1).. Flwmm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, county of Androscoggin, State of Maine, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Collapsible Lasts. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lasts. and par ticularly to a divided or collapsible lastl'or shoes. In this type of device it is particularly desired to secure a last which, while rigid and firm when in position, shall be capable of collapsing to a suflicient degree to allow it to be easily withdrawn from the shoe.

To the end, therefore, of providing a structure which shall be rigid when in normal position and yet which will collapse to a very considerable degree, and at the same time to afford a structure which shall be simple and economical to manufacture, I have devised my present invention.

The construction and operation of my device will be more fully set forth in the spool fication which follows and as illustrative of my invention I have shown in the drawings a form and embodiment of device which I find well adapted to practical use.

Throughout specification and drawings like reference niunerals are employed to in-.

dicate corresponding parts, and in the drawings Figure 1 is a view of the last in normal position with the interior parts indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the last in collapsible position, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the link.

I provide last comprising a heel part 1, a fore part 2 and an instep block These parts are separated by cuts which give to the heel part a line of cleavage back of the waist line. It leaves on the rear of the toe part a projecting angle formed by the sur face at which is inclined slightly forward and a rearwardly extending intersecting surface 5. The heel part 1 has a face 6 corresponding to the lower portion of the face 4.- of the toe part 2, and intersecting this a long inclined face 7 which corresponds with a face 8 on the instep block 3. y I

On the lower or forward end of the instep block 3 are provided intersecting faces 9 audit). These form a notch or angular recess Which "correspond with the face 5 and the upper part of the taco l of the toe memer 2.

The boot member 1 and the toe member 2 are hinged by a hinge strip ll pivoted at 12 and '13, working in slots so as to allow the toe member 2 to be swung up relatively to the heel member 1. Above the interseo tion of the faces 7 and l the heel member 1 and the too member 2 are connected by a link ll which is pivoted to the toe member 2 at 15 and is slotted at 17 to receive a pin 16 allowing the necessary play in the elevation of the heel section. The slot 17 has a projecting point 17 which affords a retard and frictional grip as the last is brought into extended condition. The instep piece 3 is pinned to the link ll at either the point 18 or '19, or both of these points, as may be desired. The opening for the upper pin is slightly elongated as indicated at 19 to permit play. i

The usual "ack hole or socket 20 is pro vidcd for supporting the shoe and lasting. The parts are held. backby the plunger 21 which is held out by the spring 22. It will be seen that with the lastin the position shown in Fig. 1, which is the normal position of the last when in the shoe, the parts 1, 2 and fit snugly together, interlocking in a firm and rigid structure, and held by the end of the plunger 21. If the last be bent by raising the heel or the toe after firstdcpressing the plunger 21 the block 3 is slid up, permitting the point between the intersecting surfaces :7 and 4- to approach the surface 7, thus shortening the last longitudinally and permitting the beer to be withdrawn from the shoe.

The. link 14 boars at its upper end against a sprinp 24, set in a recess in the heel part 1. The tendency of this spring is therefore to keep the parts closed in normal position as shown in Fig. 1 in. conjunction with the frictional contact of the point 17 with the pin 16 which also tends to keep the.last extended when in normal position.

My invention is not only serviceable as a last but is readily adaptable as an artificial foot.

Various modificirtions may be made in the construction and operation of my device if within the limits of the appended claims, all without departing from the spirit of my invention' What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An interlocking divided last comprising a fore part, a heel part operatively con nected thereto for vertical movement relawhereby a sliding movement is given to the instep block upon the vertical movement of the heel part, said instep block and said fore part having their adjacent faces formed with transverse engaging entrantand reentrant angles disposed to interlock u on the normal positioning of the parts and to be dislodgedmpon the collapsing of the last.

2. An interlocking divided last comprising a fore part, a heel part operatively connected thereto for vertical movement relative thereto, and an instep block slidably mounted onsaid heel part, a connection between said heel part and the instep block and said fore part, whereby a sliding movement is given to the instep block relative to said heel part upon the vertical movement of the heel part, and which movement of a connection between the heel part and the instep block with transverse engaging entrant and reentrant angles disposed to interlock upon' the normal positioning of the parts and to 1e dislodged upon the collapsing of the last.

A sectional last comprising a toe, a heel and an instep section, a pivotal connection for said toe and heel sectionsand a second connection joining all of said sections, said second connection pivotally secured in said toe and instep sections and slidably secured in said heel section, Whereby a sliding movement is secured for the instep section relative to the heel section.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES B. FADDEN.

WVitnesses:

VVM. J. MAHANEY, EDWARD P. KELLY.

Copiesof this patentmay be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Washington, D. C.

Commiss oner of Patents, 

